Kelly pledges ‘sweeping changes’ to ticket sales
Mr Kelly, who was speaking at the launch of the 2005 fixture list, is adamant there will be “sweeping changes” to the distribution and sale of tickets.
“We want to make tickets more available for everyone,” Mr Kelly said. “There will be sweeping changes. The time is right. Every week, I get letters from people who go to every match over the season and then can’t get tickets for the All-Ireland final.
“That is a situation that needs to be addressed.”
The GAA has appointed Dan Nelligan, son of ex-Kerry keeper Charlie, as ticket administrator.
Meanwhile, the master fixture list contains a number of interesting developments - incorporating the revamped All-Ireland SHC, and the U21 FC along with ensuring that provincial runners-up will not be forced to play six days after losing a replay.
Both Laois and Limerick footballers suffered that fate this year, but the GAC have said that the beaten provincial finalists will be not be obliged to play qualifiers within 13 days of their defeat next season.
There will now be conformity for losing provincial finalists, with the three weeks allowing for the event of a draw. The conformity means no defeated team will have a longer break than any other.
“We have tried to avoid the situation of Limerick and Laois this year, where they had to play six days after losing their replay,” said Tony O’Keeffe of the GAC.
“So, we have allowed for three weeks, which gives the losing team an extra week after the replay.”
Other creases have also been ironed out. Both the Connacht and Munster football finals take place a week earlier, on July 10, than the Leinster and Ulster football finals. The GAC have ensured that the losers in the earlier provincial finals will play qualifiers a week earlier than the Ulster and Leinster runners-up. In recent seasons, this hasn’t always been the case.
The All-Ireland U21 FC has also been brought forward to early summer in a bid to pump new life into the competition.
